10 fires daily from faulty white goods such as washing machines

Iain Lynn

Washing machines, tumble dryers and fridges are among the household items which have contributed to 9,574 fires in the past three years, according to information released under Freedom of Information laws to the Liberal Democrats.

The party said it had received responses from 30 fire brigades, indicating the total figure is likely to be higher given that it does not include data from around a third of services.

Lib Dem MP and former party leader Tim Farron said the Government urgently needs to act to "prevent a repeat" of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Scotland Yard confirmed in the days after the blaze, in which at least 80 people died, that the fire started in a faulty Hotpoint fridge-freezer.